System for generating electricity in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is described herein. The system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/490,289, filed on Apr. 18, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a system for generating electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior having electrodes formed of conductive fabric or film materials containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Monitoring of driver awareness and physical state in motor vehicles has been increasing to improve passenger safety. Current monitoring systems typically use cameras as inputs to determine driver awareness based on eye position or facial expression. Monitoring systems based on cameras may be unreliable due to differences in facial expressions between different people and the programming associated with the cameras. Therefore, an improved system for monitoring driver awareness and state remains desired.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is provided. The system includes an electrode containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller connected to the electrode configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode and further configured initiate a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. The electrode is in contact with the vehicle occupant, for example the electrode is in contact with the skin surface of the vehicle occupant.

The system may include at least two electrodes that are connected to the controller and comprise nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. All of these electrodes are in contact with the vehicle occupant, for example the electrodes are in contact with the skin surface of the vehicle occupant.

The controller may be configured to determine a voltage potential difference between the at least two electrodes and determine a heart rate of the vehicle occupant based on a change in the voltage potential difference between the at least two electrodes. The controller is also configured to initiate the countermeasure if the heart rate is not within a predetermined range. The electrodes may be incorporated into a cloth material forming an interior surface of the vehicle, such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, and a seat belt. Alternatively or in addition, the electrodes may be incorporated into a conductive film material, such as a polymer based film, forming an interior surface of the vehicle such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, a steering wheel, a door panel, a door handle, or a control button. The controller may be further configured to determine a state of alertness of the vehicle occupant based on the heart rate and initiate the countermeasure if the state of alertness is not within a predetermined range. Alternatively or in addition, the controller may be further configured to determine a presence of the vehicle occupant in the based on the heart rate and initiate the countermeasure if the controller detects the presence of the vehicle occupant.

Alternatively or in addition, the controller may be configured to determine a voltage potential difference between the at least two electrodes and determine brain wave activity of the vehicle occupant based on a change in the voltage potential difference between the at least two electrodes. The controller may be further configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on the brain wave activity and initiate the countermeasure based on the brain wave activity. The electrodes may comprise a cloth material or a foam material that are incorporated into an item such as a headband, a headrest, a headphone, or a helmet.

The electrode may be configured to detect a concentration level of a substance in sweat of the vehicle occupant. The controller connected to the electrode may be configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on the concentration level of the substance in the sweat of the vehicle occupant detected by the electrode and initiate the countermeasure if the concentration level is not within a predetermined range. The electrode may be incorporated into a cloth material forming an interior surface of the vehicle such as a seat, an arm rest, a seat belt, or a head rest. Alternatively or in addition, the electrode may be incorporated into a conductive film material, such as a polymer based film, forming an interior surface of the vehicle such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, or a seat belt.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is provided. The system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle and a pair of electrodes connected to the thermoelectric device and the electrical system of the vehicle. The thermoelectric device has a first side that is in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side that is in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

The thermoelectric device may be incorporated into a cloth material forming the interior surface of the vehicle such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, or a seat belt. Alternatively, the thermoelectric device may be incorporated into a conductive film material forming the interior surface of the vehicle such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, a steering wheel, a door panel, a door handle, or a control button. The electrical system may be configured to provide the electrical power to the thermoelectric device, thereby heating the portion of the vehicle interior and/or further configured to provide the electrical power to the thermoelectric device having a reversed polarity, thereby cooling the portion of the vehicle interior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a physical state monitoring system for a vehicle occupant in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a steering wheel with electrodes of the physical state monitoring system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a physical state monitoring system for a vehicle occupant in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of headphones with electrodes of the physical state monitoring system of FIG. 3 in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a physical state monitoring system for a vehicle occupant in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a thermoelectric generator system for a vehicle in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, similar elements of the various embodiments share the last two digits of the reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A physical state monitoring system that is configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is presented herein. The system includes electrodes that are formed of carbon nanotubes and/or nano-scale metal fibers. As used herein, nano-scale metal fibers may be nano-scale stainless steel fibers, metal nanowires, and/or nano-scale metal plated carbon fibers, e.g. copper plated carbon fibers or nickel plated carbon fibers. As used herein, nano-scale fibers have a diameter between 1 and 100 nanometers while the length of the fibers may exceed 100 nanometers and be in the micron or millimeter range. The electrodes are in contact with the vehicle occupant and, based on the configuration of the electrodes, able to generate a signal that allows a properly configured controller in communication with the electrodes to determine a heart rate of the vehicle occupant, brain wave activity of the vehicle occupant, or concentration of a substance, such as hormones or neurotransmitters in the sweat of the vehicle occupant. Based on the heart rate, brain wave, or concentration data, the controller may then cause the vehicle to take countermeasures to improve the physical state of the vehicle occupant. For example, if the controller detects an elevated heart rate that indicates that the vehicle occupant is stressed, the controller may reduce the volume of the in-vehicle entertainment system or limit and prioritize messages presented to the occupant in order to help reduce stress levels.

Based on the state of the vehicle occupant as determined by the controller based on the output of the electrode(s), the controller may be configured to:

-   -   provide an alert for to person unexpectedly left in the vehicle         after exiting the vehicle;     -   provide an alert for to person unexpectedly in the vehicle         before entering the vehicle;     -   determine alertness of the vehicle occupant by monitoring brain         wave activity;     -   determine alertness or mood of the vehicle occupant by         monitoring hormone levels;     -   determine alertness or mood of the vehicle occupant by         monitoring neurotransmitter levels;     -   determine alertness or physical state of the vehicle occupant by         monitoring heart rate;     -   sense the presence of the vehicle occupant by touch;     -   adjust heating, ventilation and air conditioning system         automatically based on sweating of the vehicle occupant; and     -   generate electricity from a temperature difference between the         vehicle occupant and the vehicle interior.     -   The preceding list in not exhaustive and is non-limiting.

The carbon nanotubes and/or nano-scale metal fibers used to form the electrodes may be incorporated into can be applied to the following portions of the vehicle interior:

-   -   seat fabrics;     -   arm rests;     -   steering wheels;     -   head rests;     -   door handles;     -   seat belts;     -   baby/child seats;     -   control buttons;     -   wrist bands;     -   headsets;     -   headbands;     -   skin patches; and     -   helmet like headrest with foam electrodes.     -   The preceding list in not exhaustive and is non-limiting.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting example of a physical state monitoring system 100. The system 100 is incorporated into a motor vehicle 102 such as an automobile, light truck, or commercial vehicle. The system is configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant 104. The system includes pair of electrodes 106 that are interconnected to a controller 108 that is configured to determine a voltage difference between the electrodes 106.

As used herein, a controller includes a central processing unit (not shown) that may be a microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or built from discrete logic and timing circuits. Software instructions that program the controller may be stored in a non-volatile (NV) memory device (not shown). The NV memory device may be contained within the microprocessor or ASIC or it may be a separate device. Non-limiting examples of the types of NV memory that may be used include electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), masked read only memory (ROM), and flash memory. The controller may also include a wired transceiver (not shown), such as a controller area network (CAN) transceiver, to allow the controller to establish electrical communication with other vehicle systems.

The controller may also include analog to digital (A/D) convertor circuitry (not shown) to convert voltages from the electrodes to digital information. Alternatively, the A/D convertor circuits may be incorporated into the electrodes. The electrodes may be interconnected to the controller via a hard wired connection or a wireless connection.

The electrodes 106 connected to the controller 108 are formed from nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes that are incorporated into a conductive film material, such as a polymer based film. This film material may be a separate film applied to a vehicle 102 interior surface or may be integral to an exterior layer of the vehicle 102 interior surface. All of these electrodes 106 are in contact with the vehicle occupant 104, for example the electrodes 106 are in contact with the skin surface of the vehicle occupant 104. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrodes 106 are placed on the steering wheel 110 of the vehicle 102 in a location in which the skin of the vehicle occupant's hands 112 would normally be in contact with the electrodes (10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions).

Without subscribing to any particular theory of operation, as a heart beats, it produces electrical activity that cause changes in voltage potential in the skin. The voltage potential at various locations on the body, e.g. left hand 112A and right hand 112B, change as the various chambers of the heart contract in sequence. One of the electrodes 106A on the steering wheel 110 is normally in contact with the left hand 112A and the other electrode 106B is in contact with the right hand 112B. The controller 108 is configured to determine the voltage potential difference between the two electrodes 106 and determine the heart rate of the vehicle occupant 104 based on a change in the voltage potential difference between the electrodes 106. The controller 108 is also configured to cause the vehicle system 114 initiate the countermeasure if the heart rate is not within a predetermined range, e.g. a heart rate above 120 beats per minute (BPM) may indicate that the vehicle occupant 104 is stressed. The predetermined range may be reconfigurable to accommodate the physiology of a particular vehicle occupant 104.

The controller 108 may be further configured to determine a state of alertness of the vehicle occupant 104 based on the heart rate. Studies have shown a correlation the state of alertness and heart rate, specifically a higher state of alertness is correlated with a higher heart rate. If the detected heart rate falls into a range associated with a low level of alertness, the controller 108 may initiate a countermeasure in a vehicle system 114, such as commanding the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to reduce the temperature in the vehicle interior.

The controller 108 may be further configured to determine a presence of the vehicle occupant 104 in the based on the detection of a heart rate when such an occupant would not be expected, for example a child remaining in the vehicle 102 when the vehicle 102 is turned off and locked. The controller 108 may then cause the vehicle system 114 to initiate the countermeasure, such as such as generating an alarm to alert a responsible authority and/or activate the HVAC system bring the temperature within the passenger compartment to a safe level.

Alternative embodiments of the invention in which the electrodes are incorporated into interior surfaces of the vehicle, such as a seat, headrest, or seat belt may also be envisioned.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another non-limiting example of a physical state monitoring system 200. The controller 208 in this system 200 is configured to determine a voltage potential difference between two electrodes 206 formed from nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and determine brain wave activity of the vehicle occupant 204 based on a change in the voltage potential difference between the two electrodes 206. The controller 208 is further configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant 204 based on the brain wave activity and cause a vehicle system 214 to initiate the countermeasure based on the brain wave activity. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrodes 206 that are formed of carbon nanotubes, nano-scale stainless steel fibers, metal nanowires, and/or nano-scale metal plated carbon fibers, e.g. copper plated carbon fibers or nickel plated carbon fibers are incorporated in a polymeric foam material 216 and contained in a headset 218 that is in contact with the vehicle occupant's head 220. Alternative embodiments of the system 200 may be envisioned in which the electrodes 208 are incorporated into a cloth material and contained in an item such as a headband, a headrest, or a helmet.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another non-limiting example of a physical state monitoring system 300. This system 300 includes an electrode 308 formed from nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes that is configured to detect a concentration level of a substance, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter, in sweat of the vehicle occupant 304. The controller 308 connected to the electrode 304 may be configured to detect the determine the concentration level of a substance based upon the output of the electrode 308 and determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant 304 based on the concentration level of the substance. The controller 308 will then instruct the vehicle system 314 to initiate the countermeasure if the concentration level is not within a predetermined range. The electrode 306 may be configured to detect a hormone associated with stress, such as cortisol, and the controller 308 will then initiate a countermeasure to reduce stress if the level detected by the controller 308 exceeds the predetermined limit. The electrode 306 may alternatively configured to detect a hormone, such as insulin that is indicative of the health of the vehicle occupant 304. If the inulin level determined by the controller 308 is outside the predetermined range, the controller 308 may command the vehicle system 314 to initiate a safety countermeasure, such as commanding the vehicle's telematics system to issue an emergency call to an emergency response center. In the illustrated example, the electrode 306 is incorporated into a cloth material forming an interior surface of the vehicle 302 that is in contact with a portion of the vehicle occupant 304 that is prone to sweating, such as a seat, an arm rest, a seat belt, or a head rest. Alternatively or in addition, the electrode 306 may be incorporated into a conductive film material, such as a polymer based film, forming an interior surface of the vehicle 302 such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, or a seat belt. The seat or steering wheel may contain a heating circuit (not shown) that is periodically activated by the controller 308 to cause the vehicle occupant 304 to produce sweat that may be analyzed by the system 300.

FIG. 6 illustrates an non-limiting example of a thermoelectric generator system 400 that is configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant 404 and a portion of a vehicle interior. This system 400 includes a thermoelectric device 422 containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes that is incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle 402 and connected to the electrical system 424 of the vehicle 402. The thermoelectric device 422 has a first side that is in contact with the vehicle occupant 404 and a second side that is in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device 422 is configured to supply electrical power to the electrical system 424 of the vehicle 402.

The thermoelectric device 422 is incorporated into a cloth material forming the interior surface of the vehicle 402 such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, or a seat belt. Alternatively, the thermoelectric device 422 may be incorporated into a conductive film material forming the interior surface of the vehicle 402 such as a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, a steering wheel, a door panel, a door handle, or a control button. The system 400 may include a controller 408 that configures the electrical system 424 to provide electrical power to the thermoelectric device 422, thereby heating the portion of the vehicle interior. The controller 408 may further configure the electrical system 424 to provide electrical power to the thermoelectric device 422 having a reversed polarity, thereby cooling the portion of the vehicle interior.

Accordingly, a system 100, 200, 300 configured to monitor a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is provided. These physical state monitoring systems include electrodes that are formed of nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes that are incorporated into cloth materials or conductive films forming interior surfaces of the vehicle such as seat fabrics, arm rests, steering wheels, head rests, door handles, seat belts, baby/child seats, and/or control buttons. These physical state monitoring systems determine the physical state of a vehicle occupant based on heart rate, brain wave activity, or secreted hormone/neurotransmitters. A system 400 for generating electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also provided. This system 400 includes a thermoelectric device that is also formed of nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes that are incorporated into cloth materials or conductive films forming interior surfaces of the vehicle such as seat fabrics, arm rests, steering wheels, head rests, door handles, seat belts, baby/child seats, and/or control buttons.

While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order of importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Additionally, directional terms such as upper, lower, etc. do not denote any particular orientation, but rather the terms upper, lower, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another and locational establish a relationship between the various elements. 

We claim:
 1. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior, comprising: a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle, said thermoelectric device having a first side in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior, wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device is incorporated into a cloth material forming the interior surface of the vehicle and wherein the interior surface of the vehicle is selected from a list consisting of: a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, and a seat belt.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device is incorporated into conductive film material forming the interior surface of the vehicle and wherein the interior surface of the vehicle is selected from a list consisting of: a seat, an arm rest, a head rest, a steering wheel, a door panel, a door handle, and a control button.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to provide the electrical power to the thermoelectric device, thereby heating the portion of the vehicle interior.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to provide the electrical power to the thermoelectric device having a reversed polarity, thereby cooling the portion of the vehicle interior. 